Today marks a significant moment for Five Talents. The Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Dame Sarah Mullally, officially becomes Patron of the organisation — joining The Most Rev. Dr. Jackson Ole Sapit, Archbishop of Kenya, who holds the role jointly with her. It is a milestone that means a great deal to everyone at Five Talents, and not simply for the prestige the appointment carries. Archbishop Sarah becomes the first woman ever to hold the post of Archbishop of Canterbury — a historic appointment in its own right, and one that resonates deeply with an organisation whose mission is rooted in the empowerment of women. That the most senior figure in the global Anglican Communion is now a woman, and that she has chosen to lend her patronage to Five Talents.
In welcoming Archbishop Sarah as Patron, Five Talents Co-CEO, Rachel Lindley, said: ‘As the first woman to hold the post of Archbishop of Canterbury we are delighted that Sarah Mullally has become our Patron. At the heart of Five Talents’ mission is the empowerment of women through literacy and savings groups, and our partnership with the global Anglican Church is vital in delivering programmes across central and eastern Africa – including South Sudan, D R Congo and Uganda – where many communities are facing conflict, climate change impacts and multiple health and resources crises. We know that women are not only the most affected by these crises; they are at the forefront of finding solutions to them. The patronage of Archbishops Sarah and Jackson speaks to the importance of this partnership and reflects our common focus on serving the most marginalised communities. We do this together; with hope, and a deep belief in the value and capacity of communities themselves to be agents of change and transformation.’
More about the Archbishop of Canterbury and Five Talents here.